It’s not unusual for the minority party in any state to challenge new maps. But the court decision is significant because this year, for the first time, an independent group of California residents — known as the California Citizens Redistricting Commission — drew the lines for Senate and congressional seats, as well as for the state Assembly and Board of Equalization. In the past, the state Legislature was charged with redistricting; voters changed that with two ballot measures in recent years.

The denial by all seven members of the high court to hear the challenges leaves Republicans who oppose the maps with just one option, which they have already begun to pursue: a challenge of the districts at the ballot box.

“We remain committed to the efforts that will ensure the integrity of the line drawing process for the upcoming election and all elections going forward,” he said in a written statement. “In the absence of a written opinion, we can only speculate as to why they made this decision, but we are resolute in gathering the signatures necessary so that voters can weigh in on this matter, as contemplated by Props 11 and 20.”

Cynthia Dai, one of the 14 members of the redistricting commission, had a slightly different take.

“We’re ecstatic,” she said. “The question was, would the court feel obligated to hear the other side out, so to speak … but this was a unanimous decision, and it absolutely strengthens the commission’s position that we worked very hard to make fair and impartial maps and were not influenced at all by partisan concerns.”

Dai said she is not concerned about the ballot challenge, noting that even if voters chose to vote down the maps, they will return to the same high court for consideration.

“Given the fact that (the justices) have essentially said they agree with us that we followed the constitutional criteria, it may be the fact that they would say, ‘People didn’t like the map but no there are no adjustments to be made’,” she said.

Of course, stalling may be one of the opponents’ tactics: If Republicans succeed in simply qualifying the challenges for the ballot, the new maps would be put on hold until voters weigh in.